NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—A.J. Slaughter posted 27 points and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers ensued in their recent trend of downing opponents from supposed power conferences with a 76-69 win over the #24 Vanderbilt Commodores Friday at Sommet Center. The Hilltoppers improved to 5-3 with the win as they defeated Vanderbilt for the first time since January 23, 1945. Jeffery Taylor had 21 points and nine boards for the Commodores, in a loss which dropped them to 6-3 on the season. In other Top 25 action Friday, #9 Tennessee hammered Middle Tennessee State, 75-54.

MANTI, Utah (AP)—Russ Hugentobler had 10 points to lead the way for the Manti Templars in a 49-45 win over the Canyon View Falcons Friday in non-region boys basketball action. Logan Staheli had 14 points in the loss for Canyon View.

MORGAN, Utah (AP)—Braden Saunders had 13 points to key a balanced scoring attack and the Morgan Trojans pounded the Delta Rabbits, 60-40 in non-region boys basketball action Friday. Colin Christensen had 11 points in the loss for Delta.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)—Dallin Kay led all scorers with 21 points and the Juab Wasps hammered the Millard Eagles, 76-47 Friday in non-region boys basketball action. Kegan Carter’s 14 points led the way in the loss for Millard.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)—Kevin Espinal had 26 points for the Wasatch Academy Tigers in a 59-43 win over Maeser Prep in non-region boys basketball action Friday.

SALINA, Utah (AP)—Derrick Christensen posted 32 points and nailed six 3-pointers as the North Sevier Wolves edged the North Sanpete Hawks, 73-67 Friday in non-region boys basketball action. Rhett Bird’s 23 points led the way for North Sanpete in the loss.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)—Dillon Bishoff had 27 points and the South Sevier Rams decimated the Beaver Beavers, 86-39 in non-region boys basketball action Friday. Robbie Gurr’s 10 points led the way in the loss for Beaver.

GUNNISON, Utah (AP)—Levi Thompson amassed 15 points and Judd Rydalch added 14 more as the South Summit Wildcats bested the Gunnison Bulldogs, 55-42 Friday in non-region boys basketball action. Drew Despain had 12 points in the loss for Gunnison.

HURRICANE, Utah (AP)—Jaden Seely had 15 points and eight boards as the Hurricane Tigers got past the Richfield Wildcats, 46-38 in non-region boys basketball action Friday. David Bean’s 16 points paced Richfield in defeat.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—Tyson Westwood had 19 points to lead the Piute Thunderbirds to a 46-38 win over the Tabiona Tigers Friday at the Sevier Valley Center.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—Shawn Dickson had 19 points and Keliah Holly added 18 more as the Whitehorse Raiders outlasted the Wayne Badgers, 53-50 at the Sevier Valley Center Friday. Carson Syme’s 19 points led the way for Wayne in the loss.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—Caden Andersen had 13 points to key a balanced scoring attack and the Rich Rebels embarrassed the Escalante Moquis, 60-12 at the Sevier Valley Center Friday.

OVERTON, Nev. (AP)—Kalani Norris amassed 24 points and the Panguitch Lady Bobcats surged past Moapa Valley (Nev.), 46-40 Friday in non-region girls basketball action.

STANSBURY PARK, Utah (AP)—Brooke Bliss had 16 points to lead the Richfield Lady Wildcats to a 45-31 win over Stansbury Friday in non-region girls basketball action.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)—Kandice Gleave had 21 points, while Loni Allan added 14 more as the Piute Lady Thundebirds trounced the St. Joseph Lady Jayhawks, 71-36 in non-region girls basketball action Friday.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah Governor Gary Herbert is calling for cuts across the board to address one of the most serious budget shortfalls the state has seen in years. The governor released his budget recommendations in the Gold Room at the State Capitol Friday and unveiled his plans for balancing the state budget, which has been battered by the sharp economic downturn. Some lawmakers have said they’d like to raise the sales tax on food and cigarettes, among other things. Instead, Herbert recommended 3 percent cuts from every state agency, stating department leaders would decide where and how to cut costs, leaving the possibility of layoffs in existence. Herbert’s $11.3 billion budget proposal is slightly less than the spending plan legislators approved earlier this year. That budget depended heavily on federal stimulus money that won’t be available next year to make ends meet. While Herbert makes the budget recommendations, it’s ultimately up to the Legislature to decide where cuts are made and if any taxes are raised. The Legislature convenes in January and the budget year begins in July.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah Governor Gary Herbert will unveil his plans for balancing the state budget during one of the worst economic downturns in state history. Herbert was scheduled to make budget recommendations Friday. This year’s budget was more than $10 billion and the state is expected to face an $850 million budget shortfall next year. Herbert has pledged to close that gap without raising any taxes or fees. While Herbert makes budget recommendations, it is ultimately the Legislature that will decide where cuts are made and if any taxes are raised. The Legislature convenes in January.

(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City officials are exploring the possibility of acquiring a local TV channel for city use. Business Administrator Woody Farnsworth addressed the city council at this week’s council meeting concerning the acquisition. Farnsworth said some years ago, Richfield City relinquished its ownership of their local TV channel to CentraCom Interactive of Fairview due to a limited number of channels available at the time. He said since then, digital technology has brought about hundreds of available channels which would allow a dedicated channel for Richfield’s use. Farnsworth said connecting with Ideal Living Media would provide information on local events and careers, city happenings and educational shows. He said the city may not choose to regain their local channel due to budget constraints and personnel costs. Richfield City may consider their options in the coming year.

(Ephraim) MediConnent Global has announced a planned expansion at their facility in Ephraim. The company is planning to add more than three hundred new full-time jobs in the state with most of those at the Ephraim site. MediConnect provides medical record retrieval, management, and coding, for the legal industry and insurance providers. The company has grown by nearly 800 percent in the past four years. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development offered an incentive package in the form of tax credits for the company to expand within the state. The package is based on jobs created and taxes paid by the company with a cap of 1.75 million dollars over ten years. MediConnect CEO Amy Rees Anderson expressed appreciation for the motivated workforce available in Sanpete County and commented that they are delighted to further develop operations in Ephraim.

(SCIPIO) – A Scipio rancher was injured Wednesday afternoon when his tractor ran over him while he was loading hay for his cattle. According to a Millard County Sheriff’s report, a call was received at about 2pm that 66-year old, Victor Monroe was injured and lying in the middle of 100 West at about 400 North. Scipio EMT First Responders were dispatched along with the Millard County Ambulance and deputies and found Monroe, who complained of severe abdominal pain. There were no witnesses to the accident but further investigation revealed that Monroe had been pitching hay for his cattle when, while attempting to climb back onto his tractor, the transmission accidently engaged and jolted Monroe from the tractor. The sheriff’s report said the rear tires of the tractor ran over Monroe and continued north across State Street in Scipio, struck a large tree and stopped. Monroe was transported to the Fillmore Community Medical Center and then lifeflighted to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Week two is wrapping up today in the health care debate in the Senate. Sen. Bob Bennett spoke on the Senate floor Thursday urging Democrats not to rush through health care reform. He said in speaking with small business owners in Utah, they told him if the current health care plan passes Congress, they’ll be forced to leave the country. Bennett said the bill will be detrimental to small businesses because they’ll be forced to comply with expensive new mandates that they can’t afford. Bennett questioned why Democrats are rushing to get their bill passed by Christmas when it wouldn’t even be fully implemented until 2014.